𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐴𝑅𝐼𝐴𝐻𝑆

Where is he? Stood Up?

Next Day
I woke up to multiple phone calls and meow. I looked up and saw my cat, Cotton. I started at her with a pissed off look and grabbed my phone.
"Yes?"
"Sinclair! Finally where are the reports we sent you? You said you would get them done two days ago."
I checked the time, 1:30. I looked back at cotton who was now dangling off my bookshelf. She must've turned my alarm off somehow.
"Viv, sorry I've been distracted with things. See I'm meeting someone tomorrow and it's all I can think about.
"I don't care about that. All I care is that this work is done. I'll take care of the old workload just take care of the new one that Ace is gonna send"
She hung up before I could say anything. I open our work file and grab some designs.
Summer looks.. I'll see what I can do..

4 hours later
Finished.. I hope. I look over at cotton to see her napping on my bed. I put my head down and close my eyes but before that I could rest I had to get a call. Ace Foster.
"Yes Foster?"
"Boss so glad I could get a hold of ya. Did you do the older designs?"
I checked my computer. She didn't do them, understandable.
"Not yet, I'll get them done soon. How's it going with Veah so far?"
"It's good, we're still doing interviews though"
"Ah okay, well was that all?"
"Sadly no. I get your tired with the designs but we need to see how much they cost. And we need to start our winter collection.."
"Now? We're barely in summer."
"Yea I know but Vivian wanted to get a head a start on them. Sorry Tristan."
I hung up I didn't wanna have to deal with this. I got up from my chair and started to walk to the living room. Cotton followed closely behind me. I grabbed the remote and laid down on the sofa. I turned the tv on and flipped to a random channel. Even before I could hear what they were saying I passed out.

Zeros POV
"You realize your no help right?"
I started at Alastair with a pissed off look while he just smirked.
"Zero your making this to hard. You just need to choose an outfit"
"Sorry that I'm meeting someone I haven't seen in what? 7 years??"
Alastair's eyes widen a bit.
"7 years? You both haven't talked for 7 years???"
I nodded and put my head down on the table and groaned. Before I could react Alastair grabbed my arm and yelled to our boss that we're leaving 10 minutes early.
"Where are we going??"
"Back to your place, we're making sure you look nice, and that I can easily spot you.."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
20 Minutes Later
Why we didn't take the bus? I don't know. Are most of my clothing on the floor? Yes.
"Okay. We have around 3 options."
I looked back up and saw them. They were nice and they were definitely something that Alastair would recognize me in.
"Can you leave now? It's weird having you in my house"
"Rude. And no I'm crashing on your sofa. Mostly cause I'm tired and my place is an hour away"
I huffed and kicked him out of the room. I looked at my room and saw what a mess it was. I sighed and started to clean up.

10 Minutes Later
I put my outfit on the chair next to my bed so I can get dressed once I wake up. I head to the living room to see Alastair passed out on the sofa. I turned the lights off and went to take a shower before bed.

26 Minutes Later
I turned the bathroom light off and went to sit on my bed. I looked at my phone and smiled.
"Just a few more hours. A few hours to see him again."
I threw my towel onto the hamper and got into the blankets. Tonight I was able to fall asleep feeling excited for the next day.

Next Day
"Wake up!"
What? Huh? What's going on??
"Zero wake up! It's already 12:30!"
I woke up startled. I grabbed my phone, 10:27.
"12:30 my ass. It's 10."
"Sorry I just knew it would've woken you up faster. Now fix your bed and get dressed we're going out"
I was so confused but I did what he said. He left the room once I started to fix the bed. Once I finished I headed towards the bathroom to brush my teeth and fix my hair. I grabbed my glasses and went to get dressed.
"Zero hurry up! We have places to be."
I left my room and grabbed my keys.
"What places exactly?"
"You'll see"

Tristans POV
*ring ring* *ring ring*
Again really? I picked up my phone and looked at the caller ID. "Ace"
"What? I'm busy today."
"Sorry boss but you still haven't submitted the last of the spring designs or any of the winter ones"
"What's the time?"
"Uh. 10:40"
"Do you think I could get them done before 3?"
"Alone? Maybe but I wouldn't count on it"
It was a risk I was willing to take. I hung up and went straight to the shower.
20 minutes
I grabbed the towel and started to dry my hair. I grabbed my phone from my bed I went over to my desk and logged into my work account. I started to work on the spring designs. Those should be easy enough. Right?

1 hour later
I was wrong, I was so very wrong. I've barely started the winter designs I've had 2 cups of coffee. Cotton stole my pen and lost it. But it's fine. Im fine. I'm gonna make it on time.
*rings* *rings* *rin-
"What!?"
"What's up your ass?"
"Vivian please. I'm not in the mood"
"Yea yea. You didn't sleep enough. Anyways Ace sent you the link for our meeting today right?"
Meeting? What meeting? I opened my email quickly and saw it. Meeting today at 3pm..
"Viv. Please tell me it's a joke?"
"Sorry Tristan it isn't. Sorry that work happens"
No. No. Fuck that.
"I'm not going. I'm finishing this work then heading to the thing I have today."
"No your not. Your heading to the meeting. Goodbye."
Why. Why is she so difficult. I checked the time. 12:30. I have time. I have time. I opens the file of all the winter designs we need. I started to change the patterns and the fabrics for some of them. One of the designs don't make sense. I tried to piece it together but I wasn't able to. I'll scrap it and make another coat design. Hopefully they won't be to mad about that. Especially Vivian, she's been getting more pissed off lately. Let's just finish this up..

Zeros POV
I was sitting down at the cafe. I started at my phone waiting for a call or something at least. It was 10 minutes early so it was understandable why he wasn't here.
"Alastair! Anything yet?"
"No. No red heads. At least not your red head"
What if I got the wrong day. Or time maybe... No. It's Friday, 2:50 pm. I called him again. Just to make sure he was still on. Nothing.
"Alastair. Just get me latte please. Something to start me off"
He nods and heads back to kitchen to make the coffee.
30 Minutes
I stood outside with my hands in my coat. I kept looking around. Nothing.
"Alastair.. Where is he? Have I been stood up.."
He didn't respond. Just put an arm around me and we started to walk to the park.